The 96-year-old widow of former U.S. Attorney General and 1968 Democratic presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy Sr. has suffered a stroke, according to the family, which asked the country to pray for her.
Ethel Kennedy remains hospitalized after suffering the stroke, Fox News reported, citing information released by the family.
“She is comfortable, she is getting the best care possible, and she is surrounded by family,” former Rep. Joe Kennedy III wrote.
Ethel, who turned 96 in April, spent her summer engaging in her favorite activities and spending time with close family, her family reported.
“She has had a great summer and transition into fall,” Kennedy posted on X. “Every day she enjoyed time with her children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She was able to get out on the water, visit the pier, and enjoy many lunches and dinners with family. It has been a gift to all of us and to her as well.
Kennedy, the current Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs, stated that she was resting comfortably and receiving treatment at the hospital.
“She is, as you may know, a strong woman who has led a remarkably fulfilling life. We are here looking after her,” he posted. “Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. We ask that you respect our family’s privacy at this time.”
Robert F. Kennedy Sr. was the brother of President John F. Kennedy, both of whom were assassinated in the tumultuous 1960s. Ethel is JFK’s sister-in-law.
John was assassinated in Dallas in November 1963; Robert was shot and killed during a campaign event in Los Angeles in June 1968.
She founded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization in 1968 after her husband Robert was assassinated in June 1968.
Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ran an unsuccessful independent presidential bid this cycle before dropping out over the summer and endorsing former President Donald Trump.
During an interview on Fox News Channel’s “The Story” last month, RFK Jr. claimed that the Democratic National Committee’s lawsuit to keep him on the ballot stems from their lack of faith in higher-tier nominees, calling their actions “fundamentally undemocratic.”
“You are off the ballot in Georgia, which you weren’t on, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, but you’re still on the ballot in Michigan, Wisconsin and North Carolina. It’s possible, when you look at the polls, that you still being on those ballots could have a meaningful impact on the outcome of this election.What do you say about that?” anchor Martha MacCallum asked.
“I mean, we are trying to get off the ballots in all the states,” he responded. “We’re trying to get off the ballot in all the states where I might be a spoiler and cause harm to President Trump. The irony right now is that the DNC which has been trying to keep me off the ballot, is now suing to keep me on the ballot.
“Do you think that’s manipulative on the part of these states to keep you on the ballot?” MacCallum asked in a follow-up.
“I think the DNC is doing something that is essentially and fundamentally undemocratic. I grew up in a Democratic Party that was the party of Robert Kennedy, of John Kennedy, I was trying to make sure every American had the right to vote for whoever they wanted to vote for,” RFK Jr. said.
“There’s been a million Americans who have signed petitions asking to put me on the ballot. We have complied with every signature requirement, and the Democratic Party doesn’t seem to have the kind of confidence in its nominees to actually go out and amplify their voices. Instead, it’s using law fair to keep opposing candidates like me and Jill Stein and the other candidates off the ballot,” he added.
